Xiaomi Mi Note 3 is a bigger Xiaomi Mi 6 with a weaker processor

At the time of this writing, you can snag the Xiaomi Mi Note 2 at a budget Ksh 39,999 for the base model of 4GB RAM and 64GB storage and Ksh 51,499 for the 6GB RAM and 128GB storage model on Avechi.

At some point, Jumia was selling the latter model at close to Ksh 100,000, but the giant retailer, which is notorious when it comes to expensively pricing some phones, has since removed the phone from its official listing. While the Xiaomi Mi Note 2 is a flagship phone that was released late last year with the hopes of stepping into the foot of the Galaxy Note 7, the phone’s successor is a downgrade when it comes to the performance specs.

The Chinese company has just unveiled the new Xiaomi Mi Note 3 alongside the bezel-less Xiaomi Mi MIX 2. Contrary to the latter that keeps up with the flagship status of the original Mi MIX, the former draws some of its inspiration from the Xiaomi Mi 6 design but falls short on the hardware, which doesn’t justify its status as the successor to the Mi Note 2.

Nonetheless, the Xiaomi Mi Note 3 is here with us and we have all the details of the specs and features, including the pricing in China. The Mi Note 3 is an upgraded Mi 6 when it comes to the display size, just as Xiaomi claims. Rather than sport a 5.15-inch panel, the phone has a 5.5-inch Full HD display screen that is packed onto a very slim body.

In addition to using the same design language as the Mi 6, the Mi Note 3 also shares the same cameras – a 12MP dual lens setup on the back and an AI-powered 16MP shooter for selfies – but the specs and features of these cameras are obviously not the same due to the differences in processors. Still, you get the likes of 2x optical zoom and 4-axis optical image stabilization (OIS).

Speaking of processors, the Xiaomi Mi Note 3 gets a powerful midrange Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 SoC, down from the high-end Snapdragon 821 used on the Mi Note 2 or even the Snapdragon 835 used on the Mi 6. Even though the 660 is still a great processor, it’s not a top-tier chipset like the Snapdragon 800 series. But to make the phone snappier, you get an impressive 6GB RAM, which should get the job done.

For the storage, the Xiaomi Mi Note 3 has two variants of 64GB and 128GB, just like the Mi 6 and in terms of software, you get Android 7.1 Nougat out of the box alongside the MIUI skin on top. Keeping the Mi Note 3 alive is a decent 3500mAh battery unit that supports fast charging technology. You also get features such as a front-facing fingerprint scanner, NFC, facial recognition, fast charging technology and more.

Xiaomi Mi Note 3 price in Kenya

Given that the Xiaomi Mi Note 2 and other Xiaomi phones are available for purchase in Kenya, we expect to see the Mi Note 3 hit the local shelves at some point. Even though the pricing will obviously be different from that in China, you can expect the base model to start at about Ksh 40,000 (CNY 2499) while the high-end model will be priced at about Ksh 46,000 (CNY 2899).

Honestly, the Xiaomi Mi Note 3 is a downgrade compared to the Mi Note 2 when it comes to performance specs. Considering the current price of the latter, it would make more sense to grab the Note 2 than the Note 3, but if you want the new and flashy design alongside better photos courtesy of the dual-lens setup, the latter is an obvious choice.